Integrating NASA Earth Science Capabilities into the Interagency Modeling and Atmospheric Assessment Center for Improvements in Atmospheric Transport and Dispersion Modeling
This report describes the development of algorithms to derive accurate surface roughness and displacement height values from NASA satellite data for both urban and vegetation environments and to evaluate the potential benefit of improved surface data characterization on atmospheric transport and dispersion modeling. One of the key factors limiting the accuracy of near-surface wind profile modeling and dispersion simulations is the lack of location-specific and seasonally-dependent surface characteristic values. Currently, land use category look-up tables are commonly used to provide grid-cell estimates of surface characteristics values, even though surface roughness values can vary significantly within the same land-use category. This report documents: i) the derivation of surface characteristic values by Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and Stennis Space Center (SSC) from NASA satellite multispectral imagery, ii) their incorporation into atmospheric meteorological and transport models, and iii) the results of a dispersion modeling study for Oklahoma City and the surrounding region to evaluate the impact of GSFC/SSC roughness on National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center (NARAC) / Interagency Modeling and Atmospheric Assessment Center (IMAAC) emergency response dispersion predictions.